Bearcat Chipper / Shredder

MiserableOldFart · Oct 8, 2018

I wonder if anyone out there is using the Bearcat PTO chipper/shredder with a smaller than optimal tractor.

I have a 30 year old Troy Bilt super tomahawk, that still works ok, but is getting long in the tooth, and is really too small for what I need. I seldom chip anything over two inches in diameter - use bigger stuff for heat - but I'd like the larger chipper for the sole purpose of handling bent and twisted wood more easily. A larger and more robust shredder part is by far more important to me, and Echo Bearcat has that.

My problem is my current PTO is 19 hp, and while I'm considering a larger tractor, it's not going to happen all that soon. Echo recommends 25 pto hp minimum, but I have read about some people using a bit less, jut not quite as much less as mine.

Anyone out there use one with comparable horsepower? How does it work out?

oosik · Oct 8, 2018

I ran my Wallenstein BX42S on my Ford 1700 with 23 pto hp. Later I ran this BX42S on my Kubota M6040 with 55 pto hp. The only real difference I noticed - with the bigger Kubota - it would chip trees faster. The Ford would still handle trees up to its max limit of 4" - it just chipped a tad bit slower.

The Ford pto hp was right at the bottom of what Wallenstein recommended.

Besides if you will only be chipping stuff up to 2" and occasionally larger - this combo should present no problems.

Let the fun begin-----------

bigtiller · Oct 8, 2018

If you're looking at a 5540 or what ever they are calling their 5" shipper/shredder now, you will be fine with your 19 pot hp. I have had two of them. The first was on a 2 wheeled trailer that I pulled with my truck. It was powered by a 14 hp gas motor. It was a little under powered but it still would outwork 2 men.

My current 540 is pto powered with my jd 2720 with only 23.5 pto hp. It powers it and a fan with no problem.

ericm979 · Oct 8, 2018

A Woodmaxx or Woodland Mills 6" unit would give you hydraulic feed and cost much less than the Bearcat. I've had both chuck and duck self feeding chippers and hydraulic feed. The hydraulic is safer and easier to use. I won't go back.

If you're not chipping large material you can get by with less hp at the PTO.

mark02tj · Oct 8, 2018

I had a Bearcat 73554 chipper/shredder powered by my JD 3520 (35hp).

If you were going to chip anything of size and length with your tractor I'd say that you'd have problems. If I put a 4" or 5" log with any length (6'+), I could really bog down and/or stall my tractor. But you say you'd only be chipping stuff around 2" or less, so you'll probably be OK.

You also said that you were primarily interested in a more robust shredder. I think you'll be OK there as well.

I got rid of my Bearcat and bought a WoodMaxx 9900. It doesn't have a shredder on it, but I rarely used that feature on the Bearcat so I don't miss it.

Good Luck!

CalG · Oct 8, 2018

I run the McKissic TPH Chipper /Shredder on both the 35 HP Hurlimann and the <20 HP Kubota B7200.
Performance with the B7200 is satisfactory for less than three inch green hemlock and hard maple.

I keep the knives sharp, Self feeding (over feeding) is an issue with both power sources.

papachaz · Oct 10, 2018

I have a bx42s knockoff that I bought from titan. I like it, I can chip up to 3" with it on my LS XG3025 which is 19.2 PTO hp....my neighbors are loving me right now because I've been going around gathering limbs from their yards to build up my chip pile. I want it to sit over the winter, and then use the chips to mulch between the rows on the garden next spring....I will add though, that this isn't a shredder. If you're running limbs with leaves, have the next 'bigger' piece of limb ready to go in as soon as the leaves start. And watch the chute, if chips stop coming out, it's clogged and about to break the sheer bolt, which you need to keep on hand

MiserableOldFart · Oct 12, 2018

Thanks to all for the information.
The shredder is definitely the most important part for me because I can use most wood for heat, or at least get rid of it in the wood stove if it's not rotten. I did look at some of the chipper only types, but I have read that they don't like the huge volumes of smaller stuff that I deal with.

I do occasionally chip larger material - up to 3", but only when it's rotten to begin with, so it shouldn't be too much of a strain.

Thanks again!

Gordon Gould · Oct 12, 2018

I have a BearCat 5" Chipper/Shreder bought used. I don't use the shredder much - leaves once in a while for my wife's garden. I have found that unless the leaves are bone dry they clog the screen. There is a metal screen at the bottom of the shredder box at the outlet. Mine has 1" holes IIRC. When I looked into it I found out there are different size screens available. Larger holes are better for shredding. 1" best for chipping. If I feed it slower it it doesn't clog the screen I have. Mine is pretty old so they may have changed something.
It chips the way it should just shredding requires a slow feed rate of leaves unless bone dry.

gg

ericm979 · Oct 12, 2018

My Woodmaxx 8H will chip anything with branches large enough for the feed rollers to grab. That's about 1/8". The gap between the rollers is adjustable. Where the shredder shines is on leafy material. It shreds the leaves in small pieces where the Woodmaxx chops them into a few pieces or blows them out whole. The shredder is better if you're making compost.

The Woodmaxx has no problem chipping a pile of 1/2" to 1" brush. The only times it's clogged the chute is when I let the knives get too dull. I have been getting 20 hours per side but I have been chipping a lot of dead stuff which wears the knives faster.